Published online by Cambridge University Press: 04 August 2017
The late B-supergiant HR 4049 is peculiar in different respects: (1) It is located far from the galactic plane (b = 23°); (2) It is a variable with a large amplitude and on a long time scale (Waelkens and Rufener, 1983); (3) It has a spectacular infrared excess (Lamers et al., 1986). Two models were proposed: (i) HR 4049 is a runaway hypergiant embedded in a dust cloud, or (ii) HR 4049 is a low-mass star in a post-AGB stage of evolution. In this paper we present evidence that favours the second hypothesis. This evidence consists of new observational data on HR 4049 itself and of the discovery of a second very similar object, that is located still farther from the galactic plane.